About Melissa Schlies

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So far Melissa Schlies has created 305 blog entries.

The Unspoken Secret to a Successful Marriage

One of Tony’s favorite things to do is to watch romantic movies with me. And by favorite I mean least favorite. As in, he doesn’t like most movies where the main focus is a love story. He says romantic movies are predictable, cheesy, and always end the same way. Yet even when I completely agree (like when he’s talking about Hallmark Movies), I still love them. There is something about two people learning to love each other that gets me every time. And my favorite part of these movies is when the two people in love do this one thing: [...]

By |2020-02-16T14:09:09+00:00February 17th, 2020|Categories: Adulting, Conflict, Marriage, perseverance, Relationships|Comments Off on The Unspoken Secret to a Successful Marriage

5 Things I’ve Learned About Love & Dating (repost)

This is one of my most read posts. So I thought I’d share it again on this year’s Valentine’s Day Eve. The other night, Tony and I were telling each other about some of the dates we went on in high school. I shared a time I went on a date with a guy even though I knew he wasn’t good for me.  And he talked about borrowing his mom’s mini-van to pick up a girl for a dance, which reminded me of my first real date with a boy. He too picked me up in his mom’s mini-van. We [...]

By |2020-02-06T15:56:22+00:00February 13th, 2020|Categories: Fear, Friendship, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Marriage, perseverance, Relationships|Comments Off on 5 Things I’ve Learned About Love & Dating (repost)

A Single Person’s Bucket List

When I was in college, a relationship expert came to speak at our Chapel* one day. As the historical joke/motto for our school was to expect "a ring by spring” if you were dating someone, it seemed fitting. Though I went to college for my education (and maybe, to meet a boyfriend), many of my peers were already looking for a spouse. During the talk, the expert encouraged us to do something I’d never heard before: to write a list of the characteristics we wanted in the person we’d marry. To think long and hard about the qualities we wanted [...]

By |2020-02-06T15:39:52+00:00February 10th, 2020|Categories: Fear, Freedom, Hope, perseverance, Relationships, Self Care|Comments Off on A Single Person’s Bucket List

Confession: I’m a Bad Neighbor

Last week, while I was working in our apartment, I started to hear these loud noises coming from the down stairs unit. At first I heard the pounding of a hammer. Then it sounded like the cabinets in the kitchen were being ripped out of the walls.  I peaked out the window to find two maintenance vehicles parked outside. I shrugged my shoulders, and figured something went wrong with one of our neighbor’s appliances. Then, I went back to work.  The next morning, I got a text from Tony:  “Did you know our neighbors downstairs moved out?”  I told him [...]

By |2020-02-06T00:20:34+00:00February 6th, 2020|Categories: Adulting, Change, Conflict, Friendship, Hope, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Relationships|Comments Off on Confession: I’m a Bad Neighbor

What The World Needs Now

A couple of weeks ago, I sat on my couch with my closest friend. With mugs of tea and coffee in our hands, she asked me about my writing. As January was rather busy and hard, I shared I didn’t know what I’d write about on the blog this month. Then offhandedly, I said: “Probably something about relationships as it is February.” Then I added, “But that feels so cliche.” As this is the month of Valentine’s Day, it is kind of the “month of love.” Yet joining the chorus of other bloggers and online magazines sharing tips on how [...]

By |2020-03-26T16:41:26+00:00February 3rd, 2020|Categories: Acceptance, Calling, Change, Conflict, Friendship, Hope, Relationships|2 Comments

Just What You (May) Need to Hear

It is the second to last day of January. How did that happen? I don’t know about you, but 2020 has already thrown me a few surprises. Some good, some really hard, and more than a few I am not ready for—yet here we are. And as much as my planner self hates to admit, there are only a few things we actually have control over in life.  We can fill out our Start Here: Dream Planners, and come up with brilliant strategies for how we want to approach 2020. But that doesn’t mean everything is going to go to [...]

By |2020-03-26T16:40:25+00:00January 30th, 2020|Categories: Adulting, Balance, Change, Freedom, Health, Hope, Lead, Leadership, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Mental Health, podcasts I love|Comments Off on Just What You (May) Need to Hear

In 2020, What If I Don’t Reach My Goal?

A few years ago, an author/influencer I follow was coming out with a new book. It would be her fourth or fifth one—yet the first of its kind. She had HIGH hopes for this book. She even told her followers that her dream was for it to make the New York Times Best Seller List. Only, when it released, Her book didn’t make it. She was crushed. And, as she had told all of her followers about her dream, she also had to tell them it didn’t come true. It’s almost like being a kid and telling your friends you’re [...]

By |2020-03-26T16:39:32+00:00January 27th, 2020|Categories: Adulting, Change, Courage, Failure, Fear, Habit Making, Hope, Making Decisions, perseverance, Start Here|Comments Off on In 2020, What If I Don’t Reach My Goal?

Three Ways to “Practice” Life

When graduating high school or college, how many of us were ever asked, “What do you want to practice?” I am guessing that unless we were expected to pursue law school or medicine, the answer is—none of us. The question was usually,  “What are you going to do now?” Doing and practicing have such different connotations. The first gives the impression that we’ve arrived in our occupation. While the second, seems to give permission to explore, improve, and even, mess up.  I find it funny that the only adult careers where the word “practice” is used as a noun are [...]

By |2020-03-26T16:38:50+00:00January 23rd, 2020|Categories: Adulting, Freedom, Habit Making, Hope, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Practice, Preparation, Routines, Success|Comments Off on Three Ways to “Practice” Life

In 2020, Let’s Use A New Word

One day, this past year, I sat in child’s pose on my yoga mat. I was in my living room, streaming a yoga class on my laptop. And like any class you’ve taken more than two or three times, I was only half paying attention.  I knew what I needed to do (breathe). And I knew what I needed to do next (downward dog). But then, the instructor said something I had heard her say before. Only this time, the full meaning of her words took root. She said, “Today, pay attention to where you are at in your practice.” [...]

By |2020-03-26T16:37:38+00:00January 20th, 2020|Categories: Anxiety, Balance, Change, discipline, Failure, Habit Making, perseverance, Practice, Preparation, Routines|Comments Off on In 2020, Let’s Use A New Word

Three Things to Remember About Making New Year’s Goals

As I shared last week, I love a good challenge. I am not talking about an in-the-moment dare to do something crazy. But rather a thoughtfully planned, thirty or so day challenge to do something that helps me grow and change. But even though challenges are great because they jumpstart us short-term, they can still be hard.  Challenges are hard, because change is hard. Whether you have jumpstarted your 2020 with a Challenge, or you’ve gone the traditional route of modifying your habits to help you reach your goals—by now, I know you are feeling this. Cutting out indulgences, or [...]

By |2020-03-26T16:36:58+00:00January 16th, 2020|Categories: Balance, Change, Courage, discipline, Habit Making, Health, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, perseverance, Routines, Success|Comments Off on Three Things to Remember About Making New Year’s Goals

ABOUT ME

I’m a life coach and writer who loves coffee, adventure, and the ocean. I want to live a truly good story, and I want to help you do the same. 

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